Cooling module using electrical pulses

ABSTRACT

A circuit for cooling is disclosed. The circuit uses a pulse generator in combination with a conductor. A cooling effect of the circuit on the conductor can be used and can be used in conjunction with a Carnot or Stirling engine. A resultant energy applied to a load is larger than the energy supplied by the pulse generator due to the absorption of external energy by the conductor.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/238,643,filed on Apr. 23, 2021, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 17/175,248, filed Feb. 12, 2021, now U.S. Pat. No.11,223,301, which application is a continuation of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 16/997,557, filed on Aug. 19, 2020, now U.S. Pat.No. 10,951,136, which application claims priority from U.S. ProvisionalApplication No. 62/889,506, filed Aug. 20, 2019. In addition, thisapplication claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application No.63/015,319, filed Apr. 24, 2020. All applications are incorporatedherein by reference in their entirety.

BACKGROUND

Generation of electrical energy is a fundamental technique for oursociety's energy needs. Conversion of the thermal energy contained in aplasma flame, such as a cylinder in an internal combustion engine, is anexample of the utilization of thermal energy to provide for itsconversion into mechanical energy. If thermal energy is available, acomplicated and expensive device, such as a Carnot engine or Stirlingcycle engine, is used to convert the heat energy from a hot sink and acold sink into mechanical energy. The limitations to such devices arethe temperature differentials between the two heat sources must besubstantial. Efficiencies in the range of 15 to 30% are typical for thelarger engines. Small temperature differences, such as a few degreesCelsius, are of little practical value. Other methods such as directthermoelectric conversion using devices, such as a thermocouple, sufferthe same lack of practical utility when the temperature differences aresmall. A convenient and direct method for the conversion of thermalenergy to electrical energy is a much needed and desirable method forgenerating electrical power.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an example Carver Voltaic Effect (CVE) circuit used forgenerating electrical energy.

FIG. 2 illustrates a generic embodiment for a circuit for generatingelectrical energy using the CVE circuit of FIG. 1 .

FIG. 3 shows another embodiment of a CVE circuit for generatingelectrical energy.

FIG. 4 shows an example etalon having fluid being pumped through acavity therein.

FIG. 5 is a circuit according to another embodiment for generatingelectrical energy.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart according to another embodiment for generatingelectrical energy.

FIG. 7 is a circuit diagram according to another embodiment forgenerating electrical energy.

FIG. 8 is another embodiment of a CVE circuit.

FIG. 9 is an exemplary application of the CVE circuit applied to aCarnot engine.

FIG. 10 is an exemplary layered heat exchanger used in the CVE circuit.

FIG. 11 is an exemplary heat exchanger having a high conductivityelectrical layer.

FIG. 12 is an exemplary heat exchanger including cylindrical layers.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart of an embodiment for using the CVE circuit.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A method and system are disclosed for the generation of electricalenergy for use in numerous applications. The method is general in itsapplications and can be applied to many electrically powered devices,such as portable tools, sensors, optical devices, lighting, heating,cooling, breathing apparatus, medical devices, timing devices, portablecomputers, cell phones, powered cooling or heating devices as well asother similar and larger stationary applications where a convenient andpowerful supply of electrical energy is needed. The need for such adevice and method is well documented. More specifically, there is a needto have a more general and better converter of mechanical, electrical,solar, electromagnetic, and other energies from one form to electricalenergy. A converter that has better input tolerance to different energyforms, if it be DC, AC, heat, EM radiation, or other sources of energywith variable frequencies, periods, and intensities, with thecapabilities to be able to output different voltages, waveforms, andcurrents to the application loads they are connected and having thecommonality of a single simple electrical output, is very much needed.Additionally, the converter should work with very low temperaturedifferences between the ambient temperature and the heat source. As suchit should be termed a “waste heat converter”.

A product of the devices described herein is electrical energy. Theelectrical energy formed can be moved in a facile manner to other areasoutside of the defined areas and volumes desired to be cooled. Becauseof this facile and uniquely fast method for the movement of theconverted energy, this process is a desirable way to make a “heatcollector”, from the standpoint of compact design and reliability. Theprocess produces a “heat collector” cold sink as a by-product of itselectrical production, and there are multiple applications of this coldsink to everyday processes.

The Carver Voltaic Effect (CVE) is a kinetic physical effect that can beused to provide significant electrical power. The CVE can be describedas the minute transient increase in the power of a single powertransmission transient in electrical conductors or in energy transfersin materials through space. The term “kinetic” is used to describe thetransitory nature of the effect. It can be detected during transitoryevents, such as fast voltage changes and some other phase and statechanges in materials. Embodiments of the devices described herein areconstructed to take advantage of this phenomena (i.e., the CVE) by theconversion of thermal energy to electrical energy. The magnitude of theCVE is associated with large dV/dt values (changes in voltage withrespect to time).

Understanding the operation and manufacture of the device includes therecognition of the presence of an etalon in the output circuit andmethods for the implementation and manufacture of the etalon aredisclosed.

FIG. 1 is a CVE circuit 100 for converting thermal energy intoelectrical energy. A square wave generator 105 generates a square wavepulse train (continuous pulses) that enters a primary side of a coupledinductor 110. The coupled inductor's secondary side is connected to anonlinear resistive device, or as is sometimes called, a negativeresistance device 112, such as a thyristor. The negative resistance isoptional and not used in many cases. The negative resistance device 112serves as a device to limit the current from the secondary side to acertain value determined by its internal construction based upon theinput voltage. It will not conduct meaningful current until the voltageexceeds a certain amount in the positive direction and will not conductin the negative voltage range until the voltage is more negative than acertain amount. For example, the two voltages may be +25V and −25V.Because of this voltage characteristic, the output of the secondary sideof the coupled inductor is always certain to exceed +25V and −25 Voltsprovided sufficient power is available to overcome parasitic losses.

The negative resistance device can be any device that can provide thistype of action. Example devices include, but are not limited to, thefollowing:

-   -   1. Gas discharge lamps    -   2. Spark gaps    -   3. Zener diodes    -   4. Thyristors    -   5. Triacs    -   6. Gunn diodes    -   7. Diodes (all kinds)    -   8. Silicon controlled rectifiers (SCR)    -   9. Switching devices controlled by a logic circuit

As the driving electronics for the transformer (or coupled inductor)cause the output of the secondary to swing from positive to negative,very fast transitions from the >25V to more negative than −25V will takeplace. These high dV/dt transients are then utilized to produce fastvoltage swings desired for the CVE to be utilized. Thus, the larger thedV/dt (higher voltage, less time), the more pronounced the CVE. Thesquare wave in combination with the negative resistance device 112 helpto achieve this goal. In this example, the capacitor C1 114 and theinductor 116 form an oscillatory circuit that further amplifies theeffects of the current with its voltage swings to produce a usefuloutput at C2 118. The C2 capacitor 118 is in turn connected to one ormore rectification diodes, shown generally at 120 to produce both apositive and negative voltage output, V+ and V−, respectively. Theoscillatory circuit formed by the capacitor 114 and inductor 116 cangenerate a signal oscillating at a frequency greater than the frequencyof the square wave input signal.

A thermal exchanger 130 provides a thermal conduction path for thematerials to have a continual influx of thermal energy for conversion toelectrical energy. The thermal exchanger can be any device used toreceive heat into the circuit. In one example, a tube (e.g., aconductive tube or non-conductive tube) is used that is filled withmaterial having a desired permittivity and permeability. Potentialmaterials include air, water, methanol, ethanol, and acetamide (or asolution in liquids such as water or ethanol). Ferrite slurries can alsobe used. The material can be pumped or circulated through the tube usingan external pump, not shown. Alternatively, the solid materials can beimmobilized within the resonant cavity. Subsequently liquids can bepumped through the tube to provide heat exchange to the materials andthe tube itself. The tube can be any desired length. For example, thetube can be 1 ft to 5 ft in length. The tube can be any desired shape incross-section such as round, square, rectangular, elliptical, aflat-sided oval, or a custom shape. Any geometric shape can be used(e.g., an N-sided polygon or a folded shape). Whatever thecross-section, the tube can be elongated with a cavity therein throughwhich fluid can pass. The tube can be an etalon as described herein. Thetube can be made of conductive material and can be a solid conductor.

FIG. 2 shows a generic version of the circuit 200. An optional driver210 can be a continuous pulse generator that supplies a continuousstream of pulses with high dV/dt. This provides the starting impulse tothe device. It can serve as the on/off switch to run the device and itcan help control the frequency at which the device is operated.

A dV/dt device 220 is shown. FIG. 1 showed the dV/dt device as atransformer or a coupled inductor 110 to indicate at least one way ofgenerating a high dV/dt pulse or series of pulses. Alternatives to thiscould be a capacitor or capacitor array, a mechanical switch, or otherspinning or rotation devices that bring an electrical (charge) ormagnetic field (magnet) in proximity to another coil, capacitor,inductor, or another magnet or magnetic field. The CVE device may haveone or more significant active devices incorporated within it. Examplesare the negative resistance devices, such as a thyristor or Zener diode.

The CVE emitter 230 is shown coupled to a thermal exchanger 240. Thethermal exchanger can, in turn, be coupled to a CVE receiver 250. Therapid formation of a dV/dt charge on the emitter 230 leads to theproduction of a “wave” of energy from the emitter. In this antenna-likemode, the emitter may be in contact with a material other than a vacuumor air. The material may have the properties of having a differentdielectric constant or magnetic permeability characterized by itsrelative permittivity or permeability. It may also be in contact with aconductive material. The emitter 230 and receiver 250 can be a widevariety of materials (e.g., copper, brass, bronze, stainless steel,graphene) that create impedance changes at the ends of the etalonchamber. Indeed, anything can be used, so long as it changes thepermittivity, permeability, or both with respect to the material betweenthe emitter and receiver. Thus, the emitter 230 couples the circuit tothe thermal exchanger 240 (which can be an etalon) and transmits asignal to the thermal exchanger. The receiver 250 receives the signalonce it passes through the thermal exchanger.

The thermal exchanger 240 is shown as being between the CVE emitter andthe CVE receiver. It may, in fact, be surrounding the emitter and thereceiver. For example, where the thermal exchanger is a tube (e.g., anetalon) having a cavity therein, the emitter 230 and receiver 250 can bemounted in respective ends of the tube. The thermal exchanger providesthe needed thermal conduction path for the materials to have a continualinflux of thermal energy for conversion to electrical energy. Thematerials may also be electrically conductive. The thermal exchanger canbe any device used to inject heat into the circuit. In one example, atube (e.g., a conductive tube or non-conductive tube) is used that isfilled with material having a desired permittivity and permeability.Potential materials include air, water, methanol, ethanol, and acetamide(or a solution in liquids such as water or ethanol). Ferrite slurriescan also be used. The material can be pumped or circulated through thethermal exchanger using an external pump, not shown. Alternatively, thesolid materials can be immobilized within the resonant cavity.Subsequently liquids can be pumped through the cavity to provide heatexchange to the materials and the cavity itself. Thus, the material canhave a dual purpose of acting as a medium between the CVE emitter andCVE receiver and acting as a thermal exchanger having an external sourcethat is circulated through the thermal exchanger. Electronic waves canbe transmitted between the CVE emitter and CVE receiver and thepermittivity and permeability of the materials contained therein canimpact the resonant frequency.

The CVE receiver 250 is shown coupled to the thermal exchanger. It mayor may not be in contact (e.g., air gapped or spaced) with the thermalexchanger 240. The receiver 250, by electrical induction from the wave,electrical contact with the thermal exchanger, or by electrical contactwith the emitter 230 has the increased energy provided by the CVE. Thereceiver harvests the converted heat into an electrical conduction pathto either be utilized directly by a load 260 or to be conditioned by aconditioning circuit 270. The load 260 can be any desired load and canhave a resistive component (e.g., a light bulb). The conditioningcircuit 270 are shown connected to the CVE receiver 250. This circuit270 is typically a circuit to convert the AC signal (or pulsed DC) intoanother frequency range or convert to a DC voltage or voltages. Anexample conditioning circuit can be a full bridge rectifier andcapacitor.

An electrical load 280 receives an output of the conditioning circuits270. The load may be anything that uses electrical energy. It is similarto the direct use of the electrical energy load 260 but it may requireconditioning from module 270. Module 260 is the direct use of the outputof the CVE receiver 250. This output has typical AC signalcharacteristics. Resistive loads would be acceptable for this type ofelectrical characteristic as either square or sinusoidal waves.

FIG. 3 is a circuit 300 in which the negative resistance device 345 isused in conjunction with the emission of the dV/dt wave as shown byconnection to component 320. As previously stated, the negativeresistance device is optional. A pulse generator 310 is coupled to aninductor or transformer 312. The output of the secondary of the coupledinductor or transformer 312 is referenced to a voltage indicated by V340. The negative resistance device 345 is coupled to the inductor. Theemission of the wave from component 320 can be coupled to the receivingcomponent 350. The receiving component 350 can also be connected to aload 360. The connection between the receiving component 320 and thereceiving component 350 is shown by a dashed bidirectional arrow and canbe a vacuum, air, or other dielectric materials either homogeneous orheterogenous. Conductive materials can also be used.

FIG. 4 is a circuit 400 using an etalon for amplification. The dV/dTdevice 410 can be any pulse generator. Alternatively, as shown above,the dV/dT device can be a transformer coupled to a negative resistancedevice, as is shown in FIG. 3 . The combination of elements 420, 430comprise a resonance cavity similar to an etalon or Fabry-Perotinterferometer. It can be similar to the description of the thermalexchanger 130. It is shown without a load. It may be utilized without anattached load by either emission of electrically induced waves or bysimply being a higher voltage source reference for referenceapplications. With a load (e.g. resistive), the etalon can produceamplified power from the dV/dt device by capturing the thermal energybetween the emitter and the receiver and the coupling component itself,particularly but not exclusively, when resonance occurs.

Activation frequencies can be used that are much lower than opticalfrequencies. In most cases, the lowest fundamental wavelength in theresonance cavity is very long compared to the relative sizes of theother components. In order to reduce the size of the resonance cavity,higher relative permittivity or permeability materials can be used tosignificantly reduce the length of the etalon involved. This area of thedevice is shown by the dotted double-headed arrow between components 420and 430.

In the case of a high permittivity capacitors, relative permittivity inthe ranges of 3 to ≥20,000 are not uncommon. Higher permittivitymaterials are known. These materials provide for a highly decreasedetalon length by similar factors such as the square root of the inverseof the relative permittivity multiplied by the relative permeability.

An etalon 440 is shown between the components 420, 430. The etalon (waveresonant cavity) chamber can be considered as one (or more) of theoscillator components. This particular etalon differs from a purelyelectrical conductivity element by involving emitted electrical wavesrather than electrical current oscillation in a conductor. A hollowetalon also provides the ability to fill the resonance cavity with amaterial that has a permittivity (and/or a magnetic permeability) thatis greater than vacuum or air. This increased permittivity/permeabilitydecreases the fundamental oscillation length. Folding (or coiling) thelength helps reduce the overall size. The etalon cavity may be wheremost of the heat conversion to electrical energy will take place. Fluidcan be moved through the etalon's cavity. The fluid will be constantlycooled by the resonance of the dV/dt waves while the movement of theetalon fluid provides a way to effectively get heat into the resonancevolume by carrying the heat from an external source. Or, simple heatconduction/convection into the resonance cavity volume can be used toprovide the heat from an external heat source, possibly using a secondfluid (e.g. water) or heat pipe.

The etalon 440 is shown as a cylindrical tube, in this embodiment, witha cavity extending therethrough. A pump 450 is used to pump fluidthrough the etalon 440. A heat sink 460 is used to extract heat from theambient environment and pass the heat to the fluid. The etalon can thenconvert the heat to electrical energy. The etalon can be filled withmaterials that have different permittivities and permeabilities, such asair, water, methanol, ethanol, and acetamide (e.g. in a solution ofwater or ethanol). Higher permittivity materials allow a lower drivefrequency to be used and still be at resonance. The etalon can have adual purpose of acting as an electrical coupling between the component420 and the component 430 and also acting as a thermal exchanger.

The emitter 420 and receiver 430 can be a wide variety of materials(e.g., copper, brass, bronze, stainless steel, graphene) that createimpedance changes at the ends of the etalon chamber. Differentelectrical elements can also be used as the emitter 420 and receiver430, such as inductors and capacitors. Indeed, anything can be used, aslong as it changes the permittivity, permeability, or both with respectto the material between the emitter and receiver. The load should beselected so as to have proper impedance matching with the source, as iswell known in the laser, transmission, and antenna fields.

FIG. 5 is a circuit 500 that is an additional schematic representationof the material 510 in between the etalon's reflective surfaces, 520 and530. The thermal energy material 510 is in the transmissive path and/orreflective path of the wave coming from the emitter or the reflectedwave from the receiver. Due to the CVE, the power in the wave isaugmented by each traverse of the wave between the surfaces. In this waythe material 510 is cooled, since the energy required for the increasein energy in the wave is obtained from the thermal energy contained inthe material itself due to the law of conservation of energy.

To achieve resonance in a given cavity, the cavity's shape must be takeninto account. Square or round shapes may be used as well as oval,elliptical, polygonal, and other geometrical shapes. Also, the materialfilling a resonance cavity plays a part in determining the frequency ofresonance. Increasing the permittivity or permeability of the materialfilling a given cavity changes its resonance to a lower frequency. Inthe case of the frequency of electrical waves, the resonant frequency ofthe cavity is related to the square root of the inverse of the relativepermittivity multiplied by the relative permeability of the material vsa pure vacuum. Thus, higher permeability and higher permittivitymaterials can lead to reduced physical sizes of the etalon cavity.

Higher permittivity materials (Thermal Energy Material) may be used toprovide an etalon cavity that is substantially shorter (thereby smaller)than that with vacuum or air-filled cavity. Additionally, the material510 may be thermally conductive to facilitate thermal transfer into thecavity from the environment or heat source. Liquid materials areattractive in that they can be circulated to facilitate heat transfer.Materials that can be used are those that are transmissive to the waveitself. Some materials (or mixtures, suspensions, or slurries thereof)that may be used but are not the limitation for use are as follows:

-   -   1. Barium titanate    -   2. Other Perovskite mixed metal titanates    -   3. Ferrite    -   4. Inorganic Oxides    -   5. Air    -   6. Organic alcohols    -   7. Organic materials that may be transmissive to the wave    -   8. Conductive metals    -   9. Semiconductive materials    -   10. Species of carbon (e.g. graphite, graphene, Fullerenes)    -   11. Materials which themselves re-resonate at other frequencies        (e.g. phosphors, rhodamine) via harmonic generation    -   12. Water or water with dissolved salts, liquids, or other        species suspended or homogeneous.

Materials can be used to partially fill or fully fill the cavity toprovide a pathway for thermal conduction to the etalon cavity. The load540 can be any desired electrical load, such as a load having aresistive component. The dV/dt device 550 is similar to those describedabove.

As an example of the device, the following set of components can beused.

-   -   1. Transformer (coupled inductor), 10:1 ratio, 2 A current        rating, 700 uH secondary inductance    -   2. 0.01 uF, 1000 V ceramic capacitor    -   3. 254 uH ferrite single inductor, 10 A inductor    -   4. Copper tube (⅝″ OD×½″ ID×24 inches length)    -   5. Powdered ferrite (125 mesh)    -   6. Resistive load (110 Ohm, 100 W metal film resistor)    -   7. 2 pc Copper wire (10 AWG×1″ long)    -   8. Zener Diode (1N5388)

Using the schematic shown in FIG. 1 , the copper tube is first packedwith the ferrite powder. One piece each of the copper wire is insertedinto each end of the tube and used to make connection to the remainderof the circuit. The transformer is driven by means of a pulsed currentsource at a frequency of 1 Hz to several GigaHertz. The exact frequencyrequired can be tuned by maximizing the ratio of power produced to thepower necessary to drive the transformer's primary. The secondary of thetransformer is attached to one piece of the copper wire in the coppertube. The other end of the copper tube with the remaining wire isattached to a negative resistance device such as a Zener diode. Theother end of the diode is attached to an inductor. The remainingconnection is led back to the secondary of the transformer's output.Electrical energy can be obtained by attachment of a capacitor to almostany portion of the above secondary circuit as a tap to the voltageproduced in the resonance circuit. The remaining lead on the capacitorcan optionally connect to a rectifier circuit for further conversion toan AC, pulsed DC, or smoothed DC output by conventional means.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart for generating power according to an embodiment.In process block 610, a continuous stream of pulses is generated, suchas by a pulse generator. The pulse generator can generate pulses havinga dV/dt of 100 V/μs or even 10,000 to 100,000 V/μs or higher. Specificuse cases have used between 3 to 10 V/μs. In some cases, 1 V/μs can beused. In process block 620, the continuous stream of pulses is appliedto a tube having a cavity extending therethrough. The tube can beconductive and have fluid continuously pumping through the cavity(process block 630). The fluid can be warmed by a heat sink or otherheating element. The fluid can be cooled as it passes through the tubedue to the CVE. At process block 640, an electrical signal can be outputfrom the tube having a greater power than was output by the pulsegenerator due to conversion of thermal energy of the fluid to electricalenergy. In some embodiments, an oscillator can be used to generatepulses at a greater frequency than the pulse generator.

FIG. 7 shows another embodiment of a CVE circuit 700 (also called a “CVEtransformer”). The circuit 700 includes an oscillator 702, whichincludes a capacitor 704 and an inductor 706 to form an LC or tankcircuit. Although the capacitor 704 and inductor 706 are shown coupledin series on opposite sides of an electrical element 708, they can becoupled in series and positioned together on one side of the electricalelement. The circuit 700 further comprises a heat sink 720, whichprovides additional surface area that can allow for the absorption ofadditional heat 722 from a heat source, or from multiple different heatsources. The heat sink 720 can be thermally coupled to the electricalelement 708 so as to allow heat transfer therebetween (e.g., directcontact). The heat source can include any source which is warmer thanthe electrical element 708 including ambient air in which the heat sinkresides. The circuit 700 can operate similar to the circuits describedabove, wherein a pulse generator 730 can generate either a singleelectrical pulse, or a series of electrical pulses having a high dV/dtratio. The oscillator 702 can generate an oscillating signal in responseto each pulse and the electrical element 708 can convert thermal energyinto electrical energy by cooling off and increasing the power of theelectrical pulses output by the pulse generator 730. The heat sink 720can absorb the heat 722 to provide the electrical element 708 with aconstant source of thermal energy that can be converted to electricalenergy. Accordingly, the electrical power provided to a load 740 isgreater than the electrical power produced by the pulse generator 730.

Further advantages that the CVE transformer are the ease of acceptingpractically any electrical input form (AC, DC, etc.) with virtually anyfrequency or mixture of frequencies. It also has the benefit of itselectrical output being a consistently known AC waveform relativelyeasily transformed to a broad array of electrical formats. Even in thecases where the desired electrical output waveform and voltage is thesame as the input, the CVE transformer can provide value in removing and“cleaning” the input waveform into a more consistent specified output.Removal of spurious AC signals, DC offsets, and other forms ofunspecified contamination of the power can be obtained. In addition, thefrequency range of the input waveform can be both higher and lower thanthat of the output without having to modify the circuit in any way touse both the high frequencies and the low frequency components of theinput simultaneously. Thus, the full energy content of the input can bemore readily utilized. This is especially useful for input power thathas frequencies above several hundred kHz where simple rectification ofthe electrical signal can be very inefficient.

Applications that can benefit from the CVE transformer include, but arenot limited to, suppression of electrical noise in mass electrictransportation due to lighting strikes, electric energy impulses fromnuclear explosions, chemical weapons, sun related phenomena, and otherhigh energy events that may impact electronics and electrical supplies.Other applications that may need to supplement one or more of theelectrical inputs along with additional energy from the conversion ofother heat or energy sources to an electrical output are also good uses.

Other forms of energy beside electrical energy may be input into the“CVE transformer”. The energy inputs are either heat or an energy sourcethat can be converted to heat. Examples are kinetic energy (flywheel),acoustic, optical, electromagnetic radiation, magnetic, chemical,nuclear (atomic), and gravity potential. All of these energy sources canultimately lead to the production of heat energy.

FIG. 8 is another example of a CVE circuit 800 including a CVE drive 802(shown in dashed lines) that can be used. In this example, a voltagesupply 810 can be used to supply a stream of pulses in conjunction witha switch 812. The switch 812 can be controlled by a microprocessor (notshown). The switch 812 is coupled to a first winding 820 of an inductor822. A second winding 824 of the inductor 822 is coupled to a capacitor830 and an inductor 832 coupled in series and used as a secondaryoscillator. An etalon 840 can be used as an electrical element andprovides the energy transformation of heat to electrical energy usingthe cooling effect of the pulses generated by the voltage supply 810 andswitch 812, in conjunction with the secondary oscillator formed by thecapacitor 830 and the inductor 832. Due to the injection of heat intothe etalon 840, increased energy can be supplied to a load circuit 850than is supplied by the voltage supply 810.

FIG. 9 shows the CVE drive 910 (which can be any CVE circuit describedabove) used in conjunction with Carnot engine 920 so that the engineperforms more efficiently. The Carnot engine 920 includes a hot sink930, which supplies energy to a working fluid 940. The working fluidperforms work, which can be power or work per unit time. The workingfluid discharges residual heat to a cold sink 950. The thermal sourcefrom the hot sink 930 may be anything that can be put into thermalcontact with the working fluid 940 and that has a higher temperaturethan the working fluid. The thermal source may be a gas, liquid, orsolid material, preferably in close contact with the working fluid. Themaximum thermodynamic efficiency is related to the absolute temperaturesof the hot sink and the cold sink and is defined by the followingformula: η=1−(TC/TH). A reduction in the temperature of the cold sink950 improves the efficiency of the Carnot cycle engine. Thus, the CVEmodule 910 can be used in conjunction with the cold sink 950 to ensurethat the cold sink 950 maintains or lowers its temperature by pullingany heat from the cold sink 950. The heat extracted from the cold sink950 can, in turn, be used to produce electrical power 960 in excess ofany supplied power to the CVE cooling module 910. Thus, the temperatureof the cold sink 950 of the Carnot engine 920 can be lowered, heat canbe supplied to the CVE device, and electrical power is produced alongwith the power produced by the Carnot engine. Greater efficiency isobtained by having a lower temperature cold sink, and the additionalenergy from the CVE device can be obtained as an additional boost to theefficiency. The electrical element of the CVE device can include a widevariety of materials including copper and other conductive materials.Graphene, graphite, and other carbon structures are known to be used asthermal conductive pathways as well as being electrically conductivematerials. Electrically non-conductive materials can also be used andinclude water, saltwater, organic amides, glycols, alcohols, and otherhigh permittivity materials or permeability materials such ferrite,iron, and other such ferromagnetic materials. The input frequency of thesignal supplied to the electrical element can be in the frequency rangeof 0.1 Hz to 5 GHz. The cold sink 950 is capable of extracting heat fromgases to provide cooled gases. Additionally, the cold sink 950 canextract heat from a liquid to provide a cooled liquid. Still further,the cold sink 950 can extract heat from a solid to provide a cooledsolid. Any of the gas, liquid or solid can be circulated to providecontinuous contact with the working fluid.

The electrical element of the CVE can also include one or more sheets1010 of conductive material, such as is shown in FIG. 10 , separated byinsulators 1020. The sheets desirably have a large surface area and canbe square-shaped or rectangular-shaped. The sheets 1010 are coupledtogether by wires or by folding a sheet to make a continuous conductivesurface, such as is shown at 1030, so that the electrical pulses of theCVE can pass through the conductive sheets. Any number of sheets can becoupled together. Through the use of the layered structure, theelectrical element cools efficiency. The layers 1010 utilize the “skineffect” of the materials to provide a lower resistance to the conductedcurrent. This reduction in resistance and increase in surface areaincreases the overall current density for a given voltage drop acrossthe material and provides for a higher effective thermal cooling(W/kg/K).

FIG. 11 is an additional example of the electrical element 1110 of theCVE having an electrical coating 1120 on the surface thereof. Forexample, a silver coated conductive structure can be used to form notonly the solid single layer exchanger as shown, but also the multilayerstructure of FIG. 10 . The enhanced conductivity of, for example, silveron a copper plate provides a greater current density in the electricalelement versus being uncoated. Other highly conductive materials besidesilver and copper can be used to coat less expensive or more desirablematerials. The layered structure can be in electrical and physicalcontact from layer to layer or alternatively a thin non-conductivecoating between layers can additionally serve to electrically insulatethe layers from each other. In some instances, the conductive coatingforms an electrically insulative layer of oxides. An example of such amaterial is aluminum with an anodized or oxidative treatment to providea non-conductive coating.

FIG. 12 shows the electrical element of the CVE formed of concentriccylinders 1200. The tubular shape is then more conducive to a heatexchange fluid being circulated with its confines or with externalcirculation over its surface. A cylinder 1210 can be made of material asdescribed above. An external coating 1220 can be applied to the outersurface of the cylinder 1210. This coating may be silver, aluminum,nickel, chromium, or other highly conductive material such as grapheneor other carbon structures. Additionally, an insulative coating 1230 canbe applied to the coating 1220. Alternatively, the sequence of layerscan be rearranged to provide for essentially the same cylinder suitablefor fluid thermal heat sources. Building sequential cylinder elementsoutwardly provides the same effect and can be used.

The materials of the electrical element or cold sink may also be coatedwith an external coating to not only provide decreased resistance butalso to enhance the absorption of heat, electromagnetic waves, electricwaves, and resistance to corrosion. The coatings can be used to vastlyincrease the absorption of electrical waves, especially in the case ofnonconductive exchanger materials. This has a large effect on thecooling ability of the device per unit weight. This is due to the factthat the capability of the cooling by the CVE effect can be moreeffective if the temperature drop of the interface is minimized. Thus,for a small thermal drop, the rate of thermal heat transfer at thesurface of the cold sink is generally the limitation for the wattagecapabilities of the CVE.

Conductive coatings that may be used include, gold, silver, palladium,platinum, rhodium, nickel, and other stainless formulations. Organicpolymers coatings such as Puralene® and Parylene and their derivatives,as well as sacrificial anodes, can be used to provide superior corrosionresistance. Electrolytic anodization process can be used to provideinsulative and physical protections. Carbon filled polymeric coatingscan be used to provide enhanced EM radiation absorption and emission.Other materials are known for the absorption of EM waves and electricfields could also be used.

Other forms of energy beside electrical energy may be input into the CVEdrive. The energy inputs are either heat or an energy source that can beconverted to heat. Examples are kinetic energy (flywheel), acoustic,optical, electromagnetic radiation, magnetic, chemical, nuclear(atomic), and gravity potential. All of these energy sources canultimately lead to the production of heat energy.

Applications that can benefit from the CVE circuit include, but are notlimited to, suppression of electrical noise in mass electrictransportation due to lighting strikes, electric energy impulses fromnuclear explosions, chemical weapons, sun related phenomena, and otherhigh energy events that may impact electronics and electrical supplies.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart of a method according to one embodiment. Inprocess block 1310, a continuous stream of pulses is generated. Forexample, in FIG. 1 , the pulse generator 105 can generate a stream ofpulses into the inductor 110. As further examples, the pulse generator310 of FIG. 3 or the pulse generator 730 of FIG. 7 can be used. Stillfurther, the voltage supply 810 in conjunction with the switch 812 canbe used to generate a continuous stream of pulses. In process block1320, the continuous stream of pulses is applied to a conductor thatreceives heat from a cold sink. The conductor can be an etalon, as shownat 440 in FIG. 4 . Alternatively, the conductor can be a wire. The coldsink can be from a Carnot engine, such as is shown in FIG. 9 . Inprocess block 1330, an electrical signal can be output from theconductor and supplied to an output load, such as load 740 in FIG. 7 .The output electrical signal can be boosted by converting heat from oneor more of the heat sources to electrical energy.

The following numbered paragraphs summarize the embodiments herein:

Paragraph 1. A circuit for cooling, comprising:

a pulse generator for generating a continuous stream of pulses;

a conductor coupled to the pulse generator that is configured to cool inresponse to the continuous stream of pulses;

a cold sink placed adjacent to the conductor; and

an output for receiving an electrical output emitted from the conductor.

Paragraph 2. The circuit of paragraph 1, wherein the cold sink is withina Carnot engine.

Paragraph 3. The circuit of paragraphs 1 or 2, wherein the conductor isa layered heat exchanger including multiple conductive layerselectrically coupled together with electrical insulators between theconductive layers.

Paragraph 4. The circuit of paragraphs 1-3, wherein the thermalexchanger conductor is a tube.

Paragraph 5. The circuit of paragraph 4, wherein the tube is filled withmaterial having a predetermined permittivity or permeability larger thana vacuum.

Paragraph 6 The circuit of paragraph 4, further including a pump forpumping fluid through the tube.

Paragraph 7. The circuit of paragraph 6, wherein the fluid exchangesheat with the tube and the tube absorbs heat from the cold sink.

Paragraph 8. The circuit of paragraph 4, wherein the conductor is a tubehaving a cavity therein with a semiconductor or metal at least partiallyfilling the cavity.

Paragraph 9. A method for cooling, comprising:

generating a continuous input stream of pulses;

applying the input stream of pulses to a conductor that extracts heatfrom a cold sink, wherein the input stream of pulses cools theconductor; and

outputting an electrical signal from the conductor.

Paragraph 10. The method of paragraph 9, further including transmittingthe continuous input stream of pulses through a negative resistance.

Paragraph 11. The method of paragraphs 9-10, wherein the conductor is atube having a cavity therein.

Paragraph 12. The method of paragraphs 9-11, wherein the cold sink iswithin a Carnot or Stirling thermal cycle engine.

Paragraph 13. The method of paragraphs 9-12, wherein the conductor is aconductive sheet having a conductive coating thereon.

Paragraph 14. The method of paragraph 13, wherein the conductive coatingis any one of the following or combinations thereof: gold, silver,palladium, platinum, rhodium, nickel, chromium, graphene, aluminum,puralene or puralene derivatives, anodized aluminum, and carbon filledpolymeric residues.

Paragraph 15. The method of paragraph 9-14, wherein the conductor isformed of concentric cylinders.

Paragraph 16. An apparatus for cooling, comprising:

a pulse generator to generate a continuous stream of electrical pulseshaving a first power; and

a conductor coupled to the pulse generator, the conductor for providingelectrical energy to a load, wherein the conductor is configured toreceive heat from a cold sink, and wherein the conductor is configuredto cool in response to the continuous stream of electrical pulses.

Paragraph 17. The apparatus of paragraph 16, wherein the conductor is atube is configured to extract excess heat from the cold sink.

Paragraph 18. The apparatus of paragraph 17, further including anoscillator coupled in series with the tube, wherein the electricalpulses are at a first frequency and the oscillator generates pulses at asecond frequency, greater than the first frequency.

Paragraph 19. The method of paragraphs 16-18, wherein the conductor is aconductive sheet having a conductive coating thereon.

Paragraph 20. The method of paragraph 19, wherein the conductive coatingis any one of the following or combinations thereof: gold, silver,palladium, platinum, rhodium, nickel, chromium, graphene, aluminum,puralene or puralene derivatives, anodized aluminum, and carbon filledpolymeric residues.

In view of the many possible embodiments to which the principles of thedisclosed invention may be applied, it should be recognized that theillustrated embodiments are only preferred examples of the invention andshould not be taken as limiting the scope of the invention. Rather, thescope of the invention is defined by the following claims. We thereforeclaim as our invention all that comes within the scope of these claims.

We claim:
 1. A circuit for cooling, comprising: a pulse generator forgenerating a signal of continuous pulses; an etalon coupled to the pulsegenerator that is configured to cool in response to the signal ofcontinuous pulses, wherein the signal of continuous pulses is applied tothe etalon, electrically passes through the etalon and outputs anelectrical output from the etalon based upon the signal; an output forreceiving the electrical output emitted from the etalon.
 2. The circuitof claim 1, further including a cold sink adjacent to the etalon.
 3. Thecircuit of claim 1, wherein the etalon is a layered heat exchangerincluding multiple conductive layers electrically coupled together withelectrical insulators between the conductive layers.
 4. The circuit ofclaim 1, wherein the etalon is a tube.
 5. The circuit of claim 4,wherein the tube is at least partially filled with material having apredetermined permittivity or permeability larger than a vacuum.
 6. Thecircuit of claim 4, further including a pump for pumping fluid throughthe tube.
 7. The circuit of claim 6, wherein the fluid exchanges heatwith the tube and/or contents of the tube and the tube and the contentsabsorb heat.
 8. The circuit of claim 4, wherein the etalon is a tubehaving a cavity therein with a semiconductor or metal at least partiallyfilling the cavity.
 9. A method for cooling, comprising: generating aninput stream of pulses; and applying the input stream of pulses to anetalon that extracts heat from a cold sink, wherein the input stream ofpulses cools the etalon and wherein the input stream of pulses is anelectrical signal that is applied at a first end of the etalon, istransmitted through the etalon and is output from a second end of theetalon, opposite the first end.
 10. The method of claim 9, furtherincluding transmitting the input stream of pulses through a negativeresistance and outputting an electrical output from the etalon.
 11. Themethod of claim 9, wherein the etalon is a tube having a cavity therein.12. The method of claim 9, further including a cold sink adjacent to theetalon, wherein the cold sink is within a Carnot or Stirling thermalcycle engine.
 13. The method of claim 9, wherein the etalon is aconductive sheet having a conductive coating thereon.
 14. The method ofclaim 13, wherein the conductive coating is any one of the following orcombinations thereof: gold, silver, palladium, platinum, rhodium,nickel, chromium, graphene, aluminum, puralene or puralene derivatives,anodized aluminum, and carbon filled polymeric residues.
 15. The methodof claim 9, wherein the etalon is formed of concentric cylinders.
 16. Anapparatus for cooling, comprising: a pulse generator to generateelectrical pulses having a first power, wherein the pulse generator isconfigured to supply a continuous stream of electrical pulses; and anetalon coupled to the pulse generator, the etalon for providingelectrical energy to a load, wherein the etalon is configured to receiveheat from a cold sink, and wherein the etalon is configured to cool inresponse to the electrical pulses, and wherein the etalon is configuredto receive the continuous stream of electrical pulses, to pass thecontinuous stream of electrical pulses through the etalon and to outputan electrical signal associated with the continuous stream of electricalpulses.
 17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the etalon is a tubeconfigured to extract excess heat from the cold sink.
 18. The apparatusof claim 17, further including an oscillator coupled in series with thetube, wherein the electrical pulses are at a first frequency and theoscillator generates pulses at a second frequency, greater than thefirst frequency.
 19. The method of claim 16, wherein the etalon is aconductive sheet having a conductive coating thereon.
 20. The method ofclaim 19, wherein the conductive coating is any one of the following orcombinations thereof: gold, silver, palladium, platinum, rhodium,nickel, chromium, graphene, aluminum, puralene or puralene derivatives,anodized aluminum, and carbon filled polymeric residues.